New digital curriculum content is now available for schools and kura to introduce into their teaching and learning programmes.

The new content, (Māori medium) Hangarau Matihiko and (English medium) Digital Technology content, is the first revision to The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa since they were published in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

The release of this curriculum content comes at the end of an 18-month development process between the Ministry, industry and curriculum experts.

A nationwide consultation process enabled teachers, kaiako, schools and kura, and parents and whānau to give their feedback on the draft content.

With digital technologies now accepted as an integral part of our society, our workplaces and our homes, the challenge has been to ensure they also become an integral part of our education system.

This new curriculum content isn’t about teaching students how to use digital devices, it’s about giving them an understanding of the computer science principles and programmes that drive digital technologies.

The aim is to enable them to learn how to design their own digital solutions and become creators of, not just users of, digital technologies.

The new curriculum content is about developing digitally-capable thinkers - learners equipped with the skills they’ll need to succeed in a world of unprecedented change, such as: communication, teamwork, and ethical and safety awareness.

The release of this new Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko curriculum content will continue to position New Zealand as a global leader in education, meeting the needs of a digital and fast-paced world and making sure our learners will be job-ready when they graduate.

Schools and kura will be able to integrate this new content into their teaching and learning programmes from the beginning of the 2018 school year, and they will need to have integrated it from 2020.

From 2018 the Ministry will be rolling out a comprehensive package of resources and supports for teachers and kaiako to build their digital confidence and capability to integrate the new curriculum content into their teaching and learning programmes.